Society puts immense pressure on us to fit in to groups and hew to their norms. But doing so can feel like abandoning our individuality and compromising our beliefs and principles. What's worse, studies have found that when a person is cajoled into doing something they truly wish not to do -- whether it's smoking, taking drugs, or losing his virginity -- it can have serious ramifications. In fact, researchers found that people who grudgingly engaged in said behaviors were later found to be at a greater risk of suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. As if that weren't enough, it can detrimentally affect our self-worth and self-esteem, leading to feelings of anger and resentment.
Peer pressure is alive and well, it seems. It's imperative that parents be well informed about their kids' social circles at school. After all, peers exert considerable influence on a child's life. But the pressure to do something against one's will isn't exclusive to children in their formative years. Adults, as it turns out, are still pressured into doing things as a way of demonstrating solidarity -- like getting drunk at the bar or stealing.
If you find yourself being pressured into doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable, don't do it! And if it means losing a friendship or not getting a promotion, so be it. Life is too short to live it by someone else's rules. As the aforementioned studies suggest, fitting in may not be worth the hassle. Maintain your dignity and be proud of who you are. No one needs a group to validate what we say, do, or think.
Have you ever been pressured to "fit in"? How did you deal with it?
Please check out earlier posts on How to Understand People by clicking on the link.
Peer pressure is alive and well, it seems. It's imperative that parents be well informed about their kids' social circles at school. After all, peers exert considerable influence on a child's life. But the pressure to do something against one's will isn't exclusive to children in their formative years. Adults, as it turns out, are still pressured into doing things as a way of demonstrating solidarity -- like getting drunk at the bar or stealing.
If you find yourself being pressured into doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable, don't do it! And if it means losing a friendship or not getting a promotion, so be it. Life is too short to live it by someone else's rules. As the aforementioned studies suggest, fitting in may not be worth the hassle. Maintain your dignity and be proud of who you are. No one needs a group to validate what we say, do, or think.
Have you ever been pressured to "fit in"? How did you deal with it?
Please check out earlier posts on How to Understand People by clicking on the link.
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